Living with heart disease doesn’t have to mean living in fear. Instead, understanding the risks that come with the disease can empower you to reduce them. Two of these risks are cardiac arrest, also known as sudden cardiac arrest, and heart attack.
Which is worse? Cardiac arrest and heart attack are both dangerous medical events, but cardiac arrest can lead to death within minutes without treatment. Time is also of the essence when a heart attack occurs, but unlike during cardiac arrest, the heart typically continues pumping blood during a heart attack. That may buy you a bit more time to get help. Seeking help quickly when you notice warning signs of a heart attack may help protect you against cardiac arrest.
Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack: Problems of Circuitry and Circulation
The major differences between cardiac arrest and heart attack lie in how they occur and how the heart muscle reacts.
Think about the key systems that help your home function. Your electrical system powers your lights, heating and cooling system, and appliances, and your plumbing system delivers water to your faucet. Similarly, your heart has an electrical system that pumps blood and arteries that deliver oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. When the heart’s electrical and plumbing systems malfunction, medical emergencies may follow.
Cardiac arrest occurs when an electrical problem causes an arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. Ventricular fibrillation, a serious type of arrhythmia, is a common cause of cardiac arrest. During ventricular fibrillation, the heart’s lower chambers, or ventricles, flutter, leading the heart to stop suddenly. With the heart no longer pumping, oxygen-rich blood can’t reach the brain or organs. Death can occur quickly without treatment.
A problem with blood circulation, not the heart’s electrical circuitry, is what leads to a heart attack. When plaque builds up in the heart’s arteries, a piece may break off, forming a blood clot. A blood clot can block blood flow to the heart and cause a heart attack, which is medically known as a myocardial infarction. The heart usually doesn’t stop during a heart attack, but cells in the part of the heart not receiving blood can die, damaging the muscle and putting you in danger.
How Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack Are Connected
Cardiac arrest and heart attack share a major risk factor: coronary artery disease. The most common type of heart disease, coronary artery disease occurs when plaque collects on the walls of the heart arteries. This can lead to a blockage—and a heart attack.
Having a heart attack increases your risk of cardiac arrest. In fact, many cases of cardiac arrest are related to a heart attack, although not all heart attacks lead to cardiac arrest. Ventricular fibrillation may occur during a heart attack, prompting cardiac arrest. A heart attack also weakens the heart, leaving it more vulnerable to cardiac arrest.
Cardiac arrest can also occur independently of a heart attack. Taking certain medications, using recreational drugs and conditions that affect the heart’s electrical system can increase the risk of cardiac arrest.
Recognizing Cardiac Arrest – Heart Attack Emergencies
The signs of cardiac arrest are unmistakable. Heart attack warning signs are more subtle by comparison, but still quite recognizable if you know what to look for.
Cardiac arrest causes a person to stop breathing, lose consciousness and collapse when the heart stops pumping blood to the brain. Without treatment, the person may survive for only a few minutes.
Heart attack symptoms often appear suddenly, but they can also occur in the days or weeks leading up to a heart attack. In addition, certain warning signs, such as shortness of breath and neck or jaw pain, are more common in women than men. Additional clues that a heart attack is occurring or imminent include:
- Back pain
- Chest pain or pressure
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Intense tiredness
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
If you experience warning signs of a heart attack, call 911 right away because a heart attack places you at greater risk of cardiac arrest. Receiving medical treatment for a heart attack dramatically increases your odds of beating cardiac arrest. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, you’re five times more likely to survive cardiac arrest if you get medical care when warning signs appear.
The Lifesaving Potential of CPR
Cardiac arrest can be sneaky. It often occurs suddenly, sometimes without any warning signs. Outside of a hospital environment where medical care is available immediately, cardiac arrest is almost always fatal. That doesn’t mean you’re powerless to help someone who experiences cardiac arrest.
If a person with cardiac arrest receives CPR within minutes, his or her chance of surviving can double or triple, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CPR can help restore blood flow to the brain and other organs until help arrives. You don’t need any formal training to perform hands-only CPR, although training is always helpful.
If you see someone collapse and become unresponsive, call 911 immediately and start administering hands-only CPR. Place one hand on top of the other in the center of the person’s chest and push hard and fast. Think of the Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive” and match your chest compressions to the rhythm. Keep pushing until emergency medical personnel arrive.
If someone is nearby, ask him or her to look for an automated external defibrillator (AED), which is available in many public places. An AED delivers an electric shock to help restart the heart. You don’t need training to use an AED. Just follow the device’s instructions.
CPR training through your local Red Cross is highly recommended for adults and teens. Timely CPR and notification of EMS are essential, and the patient has poor survival without BOTH. Learn basic CPR in 60 seconds.
Heart Protection, According to Plan
You and your primary care provider or cardiologist may have developed a plan to manage heart disease and reduce your risk of a heart attack. Following this plan closely can also help protect you from cardiac arrest.
To start, control health conditions that contribute to heart disease, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Take your medications as prescribed and monitor your blood pressure, blood sugar and A1C levels.
Another important aspect of your heart disease management plan is making everyday choices and changes that benefit your heart. One of the most impactful is quitting smoking. Smoking can contribute to the buildup of plaque in your coronary arteries, potentially laying the groundwork for a heart attack and, by extension, cardiac arrest. Quitting smoking can have a positive effect on your heart function as soon as 20 minutes after you kick the habit.
In addition to quitting smoking, you can follow a heart-healthy diet and exercise regularly, which will help you maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight burdens your heart and contributes to heart disease risk factors.
Finally, keep a close eye on your stress level. When you’re stressed, you’re more likely to binge on junk food or neglect exercise—choices that are bad for your heart. Managing stress by prioritizing self-care and making time for enjoyable, relaxing activities is one more important step you can take to safeguard your heart.
More to Read
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- What Does the Term ‘Ejection Fraction’ Mean for Your Heart?
- What Are Vascular Disease and Vascular Screenings?
- Are Cholesterol-Lowering Statin Medications Right for You?
Medically reviewed by Abid Fakhri, MD.
